Whether you highlight his leadership in the Tennessee Legislature, his executive roles in higher education or his success as a businessman, Dr. Thomas J. Garland has positively and meaningfully impacted lives throughout Tennessee.
His extensive service to others locally and across the state and his track record of accomplishment have resulted in a special honor – membership in the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association Hall of Fame. This statewide organization has named him to the 2023 Hall of Fame class based on a nomination from Tusculum University.
“All of us at Tusculum are grateful for Dr. Garland’s wisdom, guidance and vision as well as his unwavering support of our institution and of education,” said Dr. Scott Hummel, the university’s president. “He has demonstrated a pioneering spirit and has served as an outstanding model of living our mission. His contributions to the state, the business community and Tusculum are exceptional and exemplary. We are proud of Dr. Garland for embracing civic engagement and demonstrating that career success and community service must be intertwined.”
Dr. Garland is the fourth person from Tusculum to be selected for the TICUA Hall of Fame, which was established in 2020. The others are Dr. Scott Niswonger, Dr. Larry Brotherton and Dr. Judith Domer. Tusculum is a TICUA member and is eligible to nominate someone every year.
During his career, Dr. Garland is perhaps best known for his 20 years as a state senator, including 15 years as minority leader. He also served four years as chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, a year as Tusculum’s interim president and two terms as chair of the university’s Board of Trustees. Today, he serves as a life trustee at Tusculum.
The Board of Regents classified him as a champion for higher education and good government during his time in the General Assembly. During his time at the Board of Regents, he hired 10 college presidents.
He also served as the first chairman of the Tennessee Ethics Commission. On local and state levels, Garland has been a leader of dozens of legislative and governmental study groups and has served on numerous nonprofit boards of directors.
In addition, Dr. Garland has been prolific in the private enterprise, organizing his own businesses, serving as an executive with two national banks and founding a state-chartered bank. He was a member of the board of directors of a Fortune 500 corporation.
Dr. Garland has maintained a strong connection to Greeneville, his home community, as he achieved tremendous success. He served as board member and senior adviser to the Niswonger Foundation. He founded and served as chair of the Tusculum Institute of Public Leadership and Policy. He served as chair of the university’s $10 million bicentennial fundraising campaign and as one of three co-chairs of the library expansion and renovation.
Tusculum’s affection and respect for Dr. Garland runs deep. In addition to the interim presidency, Tusculum bestowed on Dr. Garland an honorary Doctor of Law degree in 1986 and then in 2002 presented him with the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor the university presents. Dr. Garland also holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from East Tennessee State University.
One of the most lasting recognitions of his achievements and legacy is the naming of Tusculum’s library after him in 2008. Dr. Niswonger was the lead donor for that project and earned naming rights for the facility. He chose to name the facility after Dr. Garland.
“Dr. Garland is one of the pillars of Greene County, East Tennessee and the rest of the state,” said Dr. Niswonger, a 1987 Tusculum graduate and a member of the university’s Board of Trustees, as well as a prominent businessman, civic leader and philanthropist. “I have watched in admiration as he has served his community superbly and provided a tremendous example of leadership. He is one of the kindest, most gracious, most generous and friendliest individuals I have met and one of the most effective community servants to grace our state. This recognition from TICUA is extraordinarily well-deserved.”
More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.
